15th & Platte no more…A Memorial

Last night was our (Dry Bones) last time having pool night at Shakespeares at its current location. They are moving and will be closed for about 8 weeks. That means a change in venue for our Thursday Dry Bones night. The solution? Bowling. Evidently the street kids like to bowl and we were even able to secure a double-decker bus to transport them from downtown to the closest bowling alley. Well, the 2nd closest…the closest one has a dress code – no hats and other ridiculous standards I’m sure the kids couldn’t meet. It was a fun night for me and I hope everyone else that was there too. We even gathered outside and took a group picture – that was A LOT of people!

As I was driving home I was amused (not that hard) at how I’d come full circle. About a year and a half ago I attended my very first pool night. We were in Denver trying to figure out if we were going to be moving here or not. I blogged about the experience which you can read in my January 2005 archives. That night I played “Spades” with Don, Titties, and Smiley – Don was my partner. I can’t remember who won that game, but I remember the feelings I experienced that night…I was out of place. Something about the people I met that night resonated with me and I couldn’t quite nail down the reason why. Fear mixed with excitement of the future possibilities kept me alert and soaking in my surroundings. I wasn’t exactly on edge, but I was definitely alert…not knowing what to expect. Last night, on my last visit to pool night at Shakespeares before it closes it’s doors, I spent the night playing “Spades” with Don, Titties, and Nikki Wallace, my friend and DB teammate. Don was my partner again, and we won. I told Titties that the first time I met her we were doing the same thing and she smiled and said, “I know”. Smiley was never mentioned and I don’t know whatever became of him.

My feelings last night were completely different than my first experience. I was comfortable and at ease. There were lots of familiar faces around me. Don is a good card partner. Cheeto kept coming over to stand behind me and rub my shoulders. Benny and I spoke maybe 10 words to each other the whole night and that was o.k. I was with people that I have come to know and love. I was right where I was supposed to be and it felt good. I had peace amidst these misfits and throwaways of society. I am one too you know. Sure I look normal on the outside – sort of (hehehe), but I now know what I couldn’t pinpoint a year and a half ago. I am just like them. I was only a few bad decisions away from being one of them. Instead of taking one look at me and judging who I was, not giving me a chance, these kids looked past the outer and saw that I wanted to “see” them and “know” them, and some of them let me. I’ve known church people that didn’t give me that kind of chance. Back at the beginning, I had taken one look at them and wasn’t sure what to say or do, even fearing saying or doing the wrong thing and now they are my friends. They’re people…who need other people…just like me.

Yesterday there was a memorial service on the 16th street mall for Zelma, a woman who had been on the streets for what seems like forever. Robbie and Matt had the honor of speaking about her along with Rick, a wealthy businessman who had befriended Zelma over nine years ago. Zelma died from stomach cancer on April 29th in her run down little motel room. Rick passed out flyers inviting everyone to remember this woman who said “God bless you” to everyone who passed by her wheel chair – whether or not they put change in her cup. The coroner’s office was able to contact her sister out west who declined to have Zelma’s remains released to her. (Very sad!) Rick and a friend of his are taking care of the arrangements for Zelma’s remains. I am so very thankful for people like Rick who take the time to stop and treat strangers (especially the poor and homeless) like they deserve to be treated – humanely. Rick was more than that to Zelma and he is a hero in my book! Two different news crews were there to capture the story and I was able to record the broadcasts of both stations which I’ll be making copies of for the rest of the Dry Bones team. I was unable to be there, but I know it was powerful. This is a link to one of the news videos: